UCSB  UBRA 


No.  173. 


SHORT  ACCOUNT 


OF 


SPRINGETT  PENK 


WRITTEN  BY  HIS  FATHER,  WILLIAM  PENN. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TRACT  ASSOCIATION  OF  FRIENDS, 

No.  :i()4  ARCH  STUKET. 

1889. 


A   SHORT   ACCOUNT 


SPRINGETT   PENN. 


MY  very  dear  child,  and  eldest  son,  Springett  Penn, 
did  from  his  childhood  manifest  a  disposition  to  good- 
ness, and  gave  me  hope  of  a  more  than  ordinary  capac- 
ity; and  time  satisfied  me  in  both  respects.  For, 
besides  a  good  share  of  learning  and  mathematical 
knowledge,  he  showed  a  judgment  in  the  use  and 
application  of  it  much  above  his  years.  He  had  the 
seeds  of  many  good  qualities  rising  in  him,  that  made 
him  beloved  and  consequently  lamented :  but  especially 
his  humility,  plainness,  and  truth,  with  a  tenderness  and 
softness  of  nature,  which  if  I  may  say  it,  were  an  im- 
provement upon  his  other  good  qualities.  But,  though 
these  were  no  security  against  sickness  and  death,  yet 
they  went  a  good  way  to  facilitate  a  due  preparation 
for  them.  And  indeed  the  good  ground  that  was  in 
him  showed  itself  very  plainly  some  time  before  his 
illness.  For  more  than  half  a  year  before  it  pleased 
the  Lord  to  visit  him  with  weakness,  he  grew  more 
retired,  and  much  disengaged  from  youthful  delights, 
showing  a  remarkable  tenderness  in  meetings,  even 
when  they  were  silent;  but  when  he  saw  himself 
doubtful  as  to  his  recovery,  he  turned  his  mind  and 
meditations  more  apparently  towards  the  Lord  secretly, 
as  also,  when  his  attendants  were  in  the  room,  praying 
often  with  great  fervency  to  Him,  and  uttering  very 


A    SHORT    ACCOUNT    OF    SPRIXGETT    PENN.  6 

many  thankful  expressions  and  praises  to  Him,  in  a 
very  deep  and  sensible  manner.  One  day  he  said  to 
us,  "  I  am  resigned  to  what  God  pleaseth.  He  knows 
what  is  best.  I  would  live,  if  it  pleased  Him,  that  I 
might  serve  Him ;  but,  O  Lord,  not  my  will,  but  thine 
be  done !" 

A  person  speaking  to  him  of  the  things  of  this  world, 
and  what  might  please  him  when  recovered,  he  answer- 
ed, "  My  eyes  look  another  way,  where  the  truest  pleas- 
ure is."  When  he  told  me  he  had  rested  well,  and  I 
said  it  was  a  mercy  to  him,  he  quickly  replied  upon  me 
with  a  serious,  yet  sweet  look,  "  All  is  mercy  dear 
father;  every  thing  is  mercy."  Another  time,  when  I 
went  to  meeting,  at  parting  he  said,  "  Remember  me 
my  dear  father,  before  the  Lord.  Though  I  cannot  go 
to  meetings,  yet  I  have  many  good  meetings.  The  Lord 
comes  in  upon  my  spirit.  I  have  heavenly  meetings 
with  Him  by  myself." 

Not  many  days  before  he  died,  the  Lord  appearing 
by  his  holy  power  upon  his  spirit,  when  alone,  at  my 
return,  asking  him  how  he  did,  he  told  me,  "  Oh,  I 
have  had  a  sweet  time,  a  blessed  time  !  great  enjoy- 
ments! The  power  of  the  Lord  overcame  my  soul;  a 
.s\veet  time  indeed !" 

And  telling  him  how  some  of  the  gentry,  who  had 
been  to  visit  him,  were  gone  to  their  games,  and  sports, 
and  pleasures,  and  how  little  consideration  the  children 
of  men  had  of  God  and  vtheir  latter  end,  and  how  much 
happier  he  was  in  this  weakness  to  have  been  otherwise 
educated  and  preserved  from  those  temptations  to 
vanity,  he  answered,  "  It  is  all  stuff",  my  dear  father ; 
it  is  sad  stuff.  Oh  that  I  might  live  to  tell  them,  so  !': 
— "Well,  my  dear  child,"  I  replied,  "let  this  be  the 
time  of  thy  entering  into  secret  covenant  with  God, 
that  if  He  raise  thee,  thou  wilt  dedicate  thy  youth, 


4  A   SHORT    ACCOUNT    OF 

strength,  and  life  to  Him  and  his  people  and  service." 
He  returned,  "  Father,  that  is  not  now  to  do,  it  is  not 
now  to  do,"  with  great  tenderness  upon  his  spirit. 

Being  ever  almost  near  him,  and  doing  any  thing  for 
him  he  wanted  or  desired,  he  broke  out  with  much 
sense  and  love,  "  My  dear  father,  if  I  live,  I  will  make 
thee  amends :"  and  speaking  to  him  of  Divine  enjoy- 
ments, that  the  eye  of  man  saw  not,  but  the  soul  made 
alive  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ  plainly  felt,  he  in  a  lively 
remembrance,  cried  out,  "  Oh,  I  had  a  sweet  time 
yesterday  by  myself !  The  Lord  hath  preserved  me  to 
this  day.  Blessed  be  his  name  !  My  soul  praises  Him 
for  his  mercy.  Oh,  father,  it  is  of  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord  that  I  am  so  well  as  I  am."  Fixing  his  eyes  upon 
his  sister,  he  took  her  by  the  hand,  saying,  "  Poor  Tishe 
look  to  good  things !  Poor  child,  there  is  no  comfort 
without  it!  One  drop  of  the  love  of  God  is  worth  more 
than  all  the  world.  I  know  it,  I  have  tasted  it.  I  have 
felt  as  much  or  more  of  the  love  of  God  in  this  weak- 
ness than  in  all  my  life  before."  At  another  time,  as  I 
stood  by  him  he  looked  up  upon  me  and  said,  "  Dear 
father,  sit  by  me !  I  love  thy  company,  and  I  know 
thou  lovest  mine  ;  and  if  it  be  the  Lord's  will  that  we 
must  part,  be  not  troubled,  for  that  will  trouble  me." 

Taking  something  one  night  in  bed,  just  before  his 
going  to  rest,  he  sat  up  and  fervently  prayed  thus :  "O 
Lord  God !  Thou  whose  Son  said  to  his  disciples,  what- 
ever ye  ask  in  my  name  ye  shall  receive,  I  pray  thee 
in  his  name  bless  this  to  me  this  night,  and  give  me 
rest,  if  it  be  thy  blessed  will !"  And  accordingly  he 
had  a  very  comfortable  night,  of  which  he  took  a  thank- 
ful notice  before  us  the  next  day. 

And  when  he  at  one  time  more  than  ordinarily  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  live,  and  entreated  me  to  pray  for 
him,  he  added,  "And  dear  father,  if  the  Lord  should 


SPRINGETT    PENN.  5 

raise  me  and  enable  me  to  serve  Him  and  his  people, 
then  I  might  travel  with  thee  sometimes,  and  we  might 
ease  one  another,"  (meaning  the  ministry.)  He  spoke 
this  with  great  modesty;  upon  which  I  said  to  him, 
"  My  dear  child,  if  it  please  the  Lord  to  raise  thee,  I 
am  satisfied  it  will  he  so,  and  if  not,  then,  inasmuch  as 
it  is  thy  fervent  desire  in  the  Lord,  he  will  look  upon 
thee  just  as  if  thou  didst  live  to  serve  Him,  and  thy 
comfort  will  be  the  same.  So  either  way  it  will  be 
well ;  for,  if  thou  shouldst  not  live,  I  do  verily  belieVe 
thou  wilt  have  the  recompense  of  thy  good  desires, 
without  the  temptations  and  troubles  that  would  attend 
if  long  life  were  granted  to  thee." 

Saying  one  day  thus,  "  I  arn  resolved  I  will  have 
such  a  thing  done,"  he  immediately  corrected  himself, 
and  fell  into  this  reflection  with  much  contrition,  "Did 
I  say,  I  will  ?  O  Lord,  forgive  me  that  irreverent  and 
hasty  expression  !  I  am  a  poor,  weak  creature,  arid 
live  by  Thee,  and  therefore  I  should  have -said,  if  it 
pleaseth  Thee  that  I  live,  I  intend  to  do  so.  Lord,  for- 
give my  rash  expression  !" 

Seeing  my  present  wife  ready  to  be  helpful  and  to 
do  any  thing  for  him,  he  turned  to  her  and  said,  "  Do 
not  thou  do  so.  Let  them  do  it.  Don't  trouble  thy- 
self so  much  for  such  a  poor  creature  as  I  am."  And 
biking  leave  of  him  a  few  nights  before  his  end,  he 
said  to  her,  "  pray  for  me,  dear  mother  !  Thou  art 
good  and  innocent.  It  may  be  the  Lord  may  hear  thy 
prayers  for  me ;  for  I  desire  my  strength  again,  that  I 
may  live  and  employ  it  more  in  his  service." 

Two  or  three  days  before  his  departure,  he  called  his 
brother  to  him,  and  looking  awfully  upon  him  said, 
"  Be  a  good  boy,  and  know  that  there  is  a  God,  a  great 
and  mighty  God,  who  is  a  rewarder  of  the  righteous, 
and  so  he  ifi  of  the  wicked,  but  their  rewards  are  not 


6  A    SHORT   ACCOUNT   OF 

the  same.  Have  a  care  of  idle  people  and  idle  company, 
and  love  good  company  and  good  Friends,  and  the  Lord 
will  bless  thee.  I  have  seen  good  things  for  thee  since 
my  sickness,  if  thou  dost  but  fear  the  Lord ;  and  if  I 
should  not  live,  (though  the  Lord  is  all-sufficient,)  re- 
member what  I  say  to  thee,  when  I  am  dead  and  gone. 
Poor  child,  the  Lord  bless  thee  !  Come  and  kiss  me!" 
which  melted  us  all  into  great  tenderness,  but  his 
brother  more  particularly. 

*Many  good  exhortations  he  gave  to  some  of  the  ser- 
vants and  others  that  came  to  see  him,  who  were  not  of 
our  communion,  as  well  as  to  those  who  were,  which 
drew  tears  from  their  eyes. 

The  day  but  one  before  he  died  he  went  to  take  the 
air  in  a  coach,  but  said  on  his  return,  "  Really  father,  I 
am  exceeding  weak.  Thou  canst  not  think  how  weak 
I  am."  "  My  dear  child,"  I  replied,  "  thou  art  weak, 
but  God  is  strong,  who  is  the  strength  of  thy  life." 
"Ay,  that  is  it,"  said  he,  "  which  upholdeth  me."  And 
the  day  before  he  departed,  being  alone  with  him,  he 
desired  me  to  fasten  the  door,  and  looking  earnestly 
upon  me,  said,  "  Dear  father !  thou  art  a  dear  father ; 
and  I  know  thy  Father.  Come,  let  us  two  have  a  little 
meeting,  a  private  ejaculation  together,  now  nobody 
else  is  here.  Oh,  my  soul  is  sensible  of  the  love  of 
God  !"  And,  indeed,  a  sweet  time  we  had.  It  was  like 
to  precious  ointment  for  his  burial. 

He  desired,  if  he  were  not  to  live,  that  he  might  go 
home  to  die  there,  and  we  made  preparations  for  it,  being 
twenty  miles  from  my  house ;  for  so  much  stronger 
was  his  spirit  than  his  body,  that  he  spoke  of  going 
next  day,  which  was  the  morning  he  departed,  and  a 
symptom  it  was  of  his  greater  journey  to  his  longer  home. 
The  morning  he  left  us,  growing  more  and  more  sensi- 
ble of  his  extreme  weakness,  he  asked  me,  as  doubtful 


SPHINUETT    PENX.  7 

of  himself,  "  How  shall  I  go  home  ?"  I  told  him  in  a 
coach.  He  answered,  "I  am  best  in  a  coach;"  but, 
observing  his  decay,  I  said,  "  Why,  child,  thou  art  at 
home  everywhere."  "Ay,"  said  he,  "so  I  am  in  the 
Lord."  I  took  that  opportunity  to  ask  him  if  I  should 
remember  his  love  to  his  friends  at  Bristol  and  London. 
"  Yes,  yes,"  said  he,  "  my  love  in  the  Lord,  my  love  to 
all  friends  in  the  Lord,  and  relations  too."  He  said,  "Ay, 
to  be  sure."  Being  asked  if  he  would  have  his  ass's 
milk  or  eat  anything,  he  answered,  "  No  more  outward 
food,  but  heavenly  food  is  provided  for  me." 

His  time  drawing  on  apace,  he  said  to  me,  "My  dear 
father,  kiss  me !  Thou  art  a  dear  father.  I  desire  to 
prize  it.  How  can  I  make  thee  amends  ?" 

He  also  called  his  sister,  and  said  to  her,  "  Poor 
child,  come  and  kiss  me !"  between  whom  seemed  a 
tender  and  long  parting.  I  sent  for  his  brother,  that 
he  might  kiss  him  too,  which  he  did.  All  were  in 
tears  about  him.  Turning  his  head  to  me,  he  said 
softly,  "  Dear  father !  hast  thou  no  hope  for  me  !"  I 
answered,  "  My  dear  child  !  I  am  afraid  to  hope,  and  I 
dare  not  despair,  but  am  and  have  been  resigned, 
though  one  of  the  hardest  lessons  I  ever  learned."  He 
paused  awhile,  and  with  a  composed  frame  of  mind,  he 
said,  "  Come  life,  come  death,  I  am  resigned.  Oh,  the 
love  of  God  overcomes  my  soul !"  Feeling  himself 
decline  apace,  and  seeing  him  not  able  to  bring  up  the 
matter  that  was  in  his  throat,  somebody  fetched  the 
doctor ;  but  as  soon  as  he  came  in,  he  said,  "  Let  my 
father  speak  to  the  doctor,  and  I'll  go  to  sleep;"  which 
he  did,  and  waked  no  more ;  breathing  his  last  on  my 
breast  the  10th  day  of  the  Second  Month,  between  the 
hours  of  nine  and  ten  in  the  morning,  1696,  in  his 
one-and-twentieth  year. 

So  ended  the  life  of  my  dear  child  and  eldest  son, 


8  A    SHORT    ACCOUNT    OF    SPRINGETT    PENN. 

much  of  my  comfort  and  hope,  and  one  of  the  most 
tender  and  dutiful,  as  well  as  ingenious  and  virtuous 
youths  I  knew,  if  I  may  say  so  of  my  own  dear  child, 
in  whom  I  lose  all  that  any  father  could  lose  in  a  child, 
since  he  was  capable  of  anything  that  became  a  sober 
young  man,  my  friend  and  companion,  as  well  as  most 
affectionate  and  dutiful  child. 

May  this  loss  and  end  have  its  due  weight  and  im- 
pression upon  all  his  dear  relations  and  friends,  and  upon 
those  to  whose  hands  this  account  may  come,  for  their 
remembrance,  and  preparation  for  their  great  and  last 
change,  and  I  have  my  end  in  making  my  dear  child's 
thus  far  public. 


